alsworms

I haven't made a bait in years, but if this is an open pour, I think I can get you really close with some old school colors. Lure Craft (now LPO) made a color that was a life changer for me: Minnow Silver. Mix that for the back with just a touch of violet hi-lite. A touch would be just a match stick size in like 4 or 5 ounces of plastic. As for the belly, I wish the pic was a bit larger, but it looks like a simple pearl with the flake mixed in throughout the bait. Minnow silver can be purchased here from the drop down list..... https://www.lurepartsonline.com/6830-LureCraft-Plastic-Color?quantity=1&custcol_beads_eyes_paint_color=1695 Violet hi-lite here.... https://www.lurepartsonline.com/6833-LureCraft-Super-Hi-Lite-Pigment Hope this helps. Good luck :-)

Dang I'm losin' those for sure!!

I haven't tried it, but man what a cool lookin' little bait. I would no doubt buy the swims from anyone who uses that mold!

Yeah I got a killer deal on them on Ebay the other day. Bought 2 in colors that I really like, 29 bucks for both, but that's pretty rare here. I'll try the external rig. I've used a small split shot weight on the nose with moderate success, but it's still a work in progress. I'm not a fan of buying high dollar baits and just let them sit on the wall LOL

Update: the Hazedong swimbait is also made by Megabass and I should have known that! Really cool bait.

Wish I had some beans to spill, brother!! LOL Hillbilly mentioned bigger swimbaits. I was really excited to try the Megabass Magdraft, which is about a 22 dollar lure. My 6 and 8 inch version rolls no matter how I fish it, so not sure about that one. If someone fishes those and can offer up some help, I'd sure take it!! Other swims I like is the Hazedong, can't think of the maker at the moment.......and I also like some of the Mission baits as well.

Of course, brother, and I'm hoping someone else chimes in. Love to hear some swimbait secrets. I know I sure mess around with 'em enough LOL.

I don't make swimbaits anymore, but I'm a HUGE fan of the Megabass Spark Shad in 4 inch. I just wish those dudes would figure out a way to keep the eyes on, but that's a different story LOL! 3/0 or 4/0 weighted screw in hooks, 1/8 ounce in most cases, Owner brand and lately I've been getting into the Berkley Fusion weighted. Really makes a difference how that weight is placed on the bend of the hook. I like it slightly off centered towards the eye. The pictured hook is perfect IMO. The only other way I will run a swimbait is with a split shot weight and dead stick it, but that's pretty rare. I fish a Z-Man Razor Shad this way because it's next to impossible to drive the screw in with Elaztech plastic. Would LOVE to run an open jighead, but we get hung up too much in the waters we fish and it's just not worth it. I could talk swimbaits all day! Hope this helps, brother. Peace :-)

Man I spend so much time in my garage messing around with Dip N Glo dyes, but not sure if the green pumpkin will turn black. You'd be surprised how different colors interact with each other. I would just say buy black hellgramites. It's not like you can't find 'em. LOL

Not sure on that one, brother. I was just giving you another option in case you can't make them black.

There are a bunch of 'em on Ebay. Here's a link to a seller who has just black as an option. Peace :-) https://www.ebay.com/itm/175796598676?hash=item28ee4b3794:g:DI0AAOSwJPtkKh57&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAAwLFWQZ0ckKh%2BvFHTNmSAA6dEAoyFYkn0Wn1hQPV0RqHCAVUnFC4Lgc2Gpi1LZKuqQ2v4QIHOofMbyhTG%2Fs4BVjsOkbpmxxObf5RKmwsUKWlMro8gmkDeVPo46HRJXhFsNgHkFvKrjTfP%2FlsFjMxmsI2xOd275GfT2SzELkzcS2TcpV38RP1Oj5uPjoONgm8ts%2Fte2p6fMFc7MFLGPRrV2x7%2F1cNFeLammAcFvE1I3Tv%2FdeBctbpmWyGw1NkVeGZ7YA%3D%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR7T_1vC2Yg

Great stuff!! My son has good success biting off a third of a senko and ripping or hopping it like a ned rig.

Man I sure hope I'm wrong on this one and please someone chime in if I am, but I believe bojon is one of our members who has passed away? This site was established in 1998 and we've sadly had a few losses. If so, bojon was brilliant in this field and a solid mentor. Beautiful tubes, btw!!

When using a screw-down lock, I have my son do it for me LOL!! But yes really good plastic. I have used ONE Z-Man Razor Shad out of the pack. Safe to say I've caught at least a dozen bass on it and it's still going strong!

I would assume so. I was just looking for availability. I have always called it Z-Man's term, "Elaztech." Didn't realize it's the same thing.

I don't know how the formula is, but Bait Plastics sells it on Ebay...... https://www.ebay.com/itm/402945028982?hash=item5dd1653376:g:o~wAAOSw2npg1NbL&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAAwJr4oooV8pKwMkIS8clGW3nO4sQQs4Ug%2Ff92BvB6X3r8mYAiB%2BTJCT10ec4JGxXXw6gEi%2BvzX6K%2B1E6jVAbNR2MGxUJ4TKL1XpFZ1Motelkp%2FYwWYUftgWDw%2Fx9dciPz13yjTXFSLn9k%2FccUTxw%2F27yNXXfDHkOi0H2oyacbZ4dMIOt0ZbsVdXPi%2BoOm4E2GBLpxvur9NAdPY%2FuO574aNJrcAdEu3yOOUBtGD04L1UCu0kK0uZdHCqauMX7FL56lOw%3D%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR-KZquCjYg If this is the same stuff Z-Man uses, I have a love/hate relationship with it LOL. Excellent plastic, but good luck getting a screw in lock in that stuff!

Just about anyone who sells plastic will sell stabilizer as well. I know for sure that MF and Lure Craft do.

Yeah I forgot that's what I did at the end there. I always had a couple gallons set aside with stabilizer just for tails and lighter colors.

Not necessarily. That's more than likely the plastisol. If it's bubbling at the very end, you could have a problem, but most of the time bubbles appear and will dissolve before pouring. And I'm sure most of you know, but just in case.........heat stabilizer in small amounts.........especially with those lighter colors.......is a life changer!

Yellowing and a smell you'll never forget lol. And in some cases it might be saved, but for the most part it's done.

Hey James welcome to TU! I used to be a collector of old wooden lures and I have found Ebay to be your best bet. I just did a search and found a few old Berkley catalogs. Hopefully you can find what you're looking for. Peace :-)

Yeah kind of a bummer it's called that because when I see rainbow, I always think rainbow trout.......and that color looks nothing like that. lol

Could it possibly be cinnamon? I don't see any purple in the picture, but if you're seeing some, it could be purple hi lite. MF makes a killer cinnamon, so I'd use that with purple hi lite and holograph flake. Best of luck, brother!

Did it with garlic salt back in the day, never tried the shrimp. Garlic salt was decent but heavy.

Yeah when I made them, I had a drop down list of choices for scents. Lately I've been wondering if that's better, bait IN rather than on. I think my son and I are gonna do a few tests the next couple times out LOL.